Molding-machine.



W. J. BAIRD. MOLDING MACHINE.

WVM

emu umw- W11. BAIRD,

MpLmNG MACHINE APPLICATiON FILED APR15. 19|5.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WIT/VESSES.' INVENTUR W. J. BAIRD.

'A MOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. 1915.

1,171,301. lfufeuteii Feb. 8,1910

4 SHEETS--SHEET 4.

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M www WILLIAM J'. BAIRD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

MOLDING-MACHINE.

Original application filed July 9, 1910. Serial Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

No. 571.198. Divided and this application tiled April 5, 1915.

Serial No. 19,253

i and State ot' Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Molding-Machmes, of which the following 1s a specification, reference heilig had therein soA `to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates generally to a machine for forming articles from plastic material, and it consists in the construction thereof, m the arrangement and combmatlon of' parts, and in various details of construction, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

`F or the purpose of illustration I have shown my invention as embodied in an automatic machine, especially 'designed for forming articles from clay, such t'or instance asflower' pots.

In the drawings illustrating the invention,-l"igu1'e 1y is a sectional front elevation'of the machine, the lower base portion being omitted; Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation; Fig. 3 is an enlargedsectional side elevation of a portion of the mechanism for imparting` an intermittent travel to the mold carrier; Fig. l: is a sectional end elevationof the same mechanism; Fig. :')lis an enlarged `sectional elevation of the mechhad to the interior parts.

anism for actuating theformer; I" ig. G is a plan view; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the transfer mechanism; Fig. 8 is a detail perspective viewofthe releasing device; and Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view,` illustrating means fori purifying the material. In'construction, the machine comprises a Abase section l, made preferably hollow to containv a number ot' the working parts of the mechanism, and provided with a door 1a through which access may be conveniently Rising from the 1 (base section is a standard 2,u'pon which is mounted for. rotation in a horizontal plane atable 3, forming the mold mechanism. v c 4 is a supporting frame, rising vertically Y from the base section, as shown.

the support forvertical reciprocation and..

carrier ot' the 5 is the spinner or former, mounted .upon

rotation, and 6 are the molds arranged in a circular series on the perlphery of the carrier 3 and' adapted to Aregister with the spinner.

.In general, the machine includes a mechanism 'for reciprocating the former and rotating the same during' the reciprocation; means for intermittently rotating` the mold carrier to bring' the molds successively into operative relation with the spinner or former; feed mechanism Jr'or automatically delivering material to the molds; and a delivery.mechanism i'or delivering the finished articles; the several groups of mechanisms being timed to properly cooperate. as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Considering, first, the former-actilatinomeans, the construction is as follows: l represent-s a spindle for the former journaled in a vertical bearing S on the supporting frame 4, and extending through and held against endwise movement within a sliding head Sl. The head is mounted for vertical reciprocation in a guide 10, and is operated by a crosshead 11 having a limited vertical play within the head opposed by a cushion spring l2. An adjustable collar 13 on the former spindle determines the extent ot' relative movement of the crosshead. Motion is imparted to the crosshead by a disk crank l-t journaled on a stub-shaft 15 (Fig. 5) actuated by a gear 16 carried by the crank and a driven pinion 17 meshing with the gear. This pinion is driven, and the spindle -7 and former rotated by a driving mechanism comprising a main drive pulley 18 Aupon a shaft 19 journaled in the top of the supporting frame 1'; bevel gears 20 and 21,V the latter being splined uponthe spindle; a driven shaft 22 carryrlhepreferable construction of mechanismA i lcontrolling the operation of the moldear- -rier includes a locking means for positively holding the carrier against movement during the rest intervals topermit not only of the proper coperation of the former and V mold, but the deposit Within a complemen-A4 tary mold oft a measured quantity of 'material to be worked, and the delivery from l tl third mold of ,a yfinished article.

The carrier, as shown in Fig. 1, is formed With a sleeve 28 encirclingthe standard 2, y and seats upon a shoulder 29 thereon. At itsupper end, the sleeve carries a gear y 30, and at the lower end. a bevel gear 31 to which rotary I motionis transmitted from the driven shaft 22 through -a gear train made up of bevel pinion 32 upon said shaft, similar pinions 33 and 34 upon ashaft',

I a bevel" gear 36'on the horizontal shaft 37, 'and' a pinion 38. meshing With the bevel gear upon the sleeve 28. t rThe intermittent movement of the carrier is effected through the agency of .a clutch i I 38a upon the shaft 2,2, and a cam 39 controlling the clutch arrangedupon a stub shaft 40 driven by a gear train connecting with the shaft 22. This train, shown `more clearly inFigs. 4 and 6, includes a pinion 41 upon 'Y 20 the latter shaft, a gear 42 upona stub ,shaft 43, a gear pinion 44 upon said stub shaft, i and a gear 45'iXed upon the cam shaft i0 y and meshing with the 'pinion 44. As shown iny Fig. 3, shaft' 22 is broken near its outer f 25 Iend, and the 'extremity carrying thelpinion 4K0 tion. During each interval of rest, the bar is automatically projected Within one of afseries of recesses, as 4),forme'd Withinv the carrier periphery, thusholdmg the car? rierabsolutely stationary, while the feeding 45 and forming 1s being effected. Upon the eX pir-ation of the rest period, the bar is auytomatically withdrawn by its cam. leaving the carrier free to be again positively rotated. This mechanism 'comprises in vthe preferred form a hopper 50 for the `1naterialthat is to be supplied to the molds, and

transferring means, in the form of an apen` tui-ed disk 51 adapted to 1carry thematerial directly tothe molds. and a spr1ng-pressed v ejector 52 for forcing the material from the disk yapertureswithin .the molds. The 1 disk has formed in its peripheral portion a series of apertures-or openingsas corresjmndingl to twice the number of the 50 molds, and is pivoted in a'horizontal plane above and to one-sideof the carrier 3 to discharge Within the central portions of the molds. A stationary plate 53t beneath the disk and alining with the discharge.y end of g5 the hopper permits the proper filling of the Lthe rotary sleeve 28.

disk apertures with the material to be ef" fected. The disk is supported on a bracket 54, and the bracket on the hopper', which in turn is rigidly attached `to the supporting frame 4. The hopper is lformed with a 7o tapered discharge end to fit the opening in thedisk, and extends in immediate proximity to [the upper face of the disk, as shown. n

55 is a feed-screw within the hopper, hav- 7'5 ing a drive connection with the driver shaft 22 through a. bevel pinion 56 upon the upper end of the screw, apinion 57 mounted onA a bracket arm 53, sprocket gears 59 and 60 connected respectively to the"gear 57 and the o shaft 22, anda isorocket chain 61 connecting the gears. s

The feeding disk-described is rotated by means of `a gear 62 thereon of twice the diameter andmeshing with the gear 30 upon g5 The ejector isV in the form of a plunger.

mounted for reciprocation above the mold series and the apertures in the feeding disk. The arts are so arranged and pro. portioned t at upon the descent of the former or spinner its crosshead 11 engages the ejector, causing the `latter to-fforce thematerial from the alining aperture'in the feeding disk Within the mold therebeneath. Uponthe return upward movementA of thei former, the 'ejector' spring 63 restores' the ejector to its .initial position. l

The-delivery mechanism in the particular type of machine illustrated comprises mechanis'm `for disengaging the finished article from the mold, andmeans for automatically transferring the article` from the machine, to preferably 'a suitable conveyer. In detail,

the construction isf-ras follows:v Mounted centrally'within the standard 2 is a rod 64, adapted tobe engaged at` its upperend by an adjustable stop .64a `carried by the recip rocating former.' At its lower end, this rod engages the lever `65, W'hiebl in turn is con- 110 nected to an ejector rod 66 mounted for reciprocation Within a stationary bearing 67. 68 is a'spider'clamped upon the sleeve 28. and tlare vertical guides carried at the extremities ofthe spider arms.v Each mold 11o'A is provided avith a vertically shiftable base .plate'70,"`and fixed to and depending from this plate isa guide-.rod 71that engages the guide in thespider aim therebelow. Opposite the stationary bearing 67 is a standard 120 72 carrying at its `upper end a centrally apertured table 7 3 mounted upon the standard frjrotary movement.l 74 is a bevel gear carried upon the under face of the table, .and 75 is va stationary member pro- 125 jecting from the standard upwardly through the opening in the table. 76 is a. guide rigidly secured to the stationary memben desafbed, and projecting in the direction of tire stationarybearlllg 67, 911161.77 is a 'block 130 sliding within the guidecarrying upon its under face a projection or lug 78. 79 represents forked arms arranged 'upon the has auhinge connection with each arm, per-V mitting a vertical rocking movement for a purpose hereinafter set forth. Each of the arms described carries near its forked end a vertical projection 82 adapted .to be en gaged b v the depending lug 78 on the sliding block. The block in turnis connected to a rod 8B extending horizontally through a bearing 8l andv provided With a spring 85 between said bearing and a suitable head on the rod end. Therfree end of the rod described is connected to a bell-crank lever 86, fulcrumed upon the upright frame of the machine in the .path of the reciprocating crosshead 11. 86 is an incline on each arm, adapted to pass beneath the guide' 80, and 86h is a. spring arm support. The table 73 is driven by a gear train from the shaft 37. 87 is a bevel gear on said shaft, which meshes with a corresponding gear 88 upon the sha-ft 89 extending diagonally from the base section of the machine to and having a suit-able bearing upon the standard 72. At the upper end of this shaft is a bevel pinion 90 (Fig. 6), which meshes with a pinion 91 on a stub; shaft 92 carrying a pinion 193 on its inner end. which engages the bevel gear upon vthe lower face of the table 73. An endless carrier of any suitable type is preferably employed to receive the finished article.

In operation, the main drive shaft 19 of the machine being rotated, motion is transmitted simultaneously to the feed and delivery mechanisms, and the former, the latteribeii'ig continuously reciprocated and ro- As the for-' tated during `its reciprocation.

. merI descends to operate within the registering mold, the finished article within the advanced mold is projected upwardly therefrom in a position for transfer to the carrier. The material isdeposited within the mold next to aline with the former, and subsequently the transfer arm is moved inwardly into engagement with the raised article. During these movements the mold carrier is held stationary by its automatic lock, and the filling of the aperture in the feed disk alining with the hopper is effected. The downward pressure the formerexerts upon the material tobe Worked is gradually increased through the agency of' the spring 12 until the crosshead is at the limit of its descent. During this period the rotation of the former spreads the material until it conforms to the shaft of the mold, a limited amount of lubricant having been admitted' to facilitate the spreading of the material. Upon the ascent of the former, after the fashioning of the article has been effected` the ejector 52 is immediately vrestored to its initial position, and simultaneously therewith the arm supporting the finished article is retracted by its spring 83, and the mold plate descends to its operative position within the mold by means of a weight (35, As the gear trains operate. the mold `carrier `is unlocked, and it and the feeding disk partially rotated, bringing another mold with material there-Y in into alincinent with the former, and an empty mold beneath' the filled aperture of the feed disk, At the same time, vthe table 73 rotates, in this instance a quarter revolu. tion, transferring the finished article half way to the carrier.. The operation described is repeated, and the arm of the transfer mechanism carrying the finishedarticle moved another vquarter revolution,k

in the direction of the mold carrier, the arm Y carrying the finished article is depressed, by reason of the incline or cam thereon passing beneath its guide 80. Thus, the nished yarticle is deposited upon the carrier, and the complementary arm properly engages the article disengaged from the mold. This operation is repeated continuot'isly as long as the machine is in operation, a finished vessel being deposited upon the carrier upon every quarter revolution of the table 73.

In the practical operation of the machine, I have found that a sudden ejection of the article just formed is detrimental in that it has a tendency to collapse the ,vessel. I have therefore provided means inV the machine described for eHec-ting a slight gradual ejection or relea'sement of the article within the mold before it is finally delivered therefrom in condition to be carried away by the transfer mechanism. The means preferably employed consist of an incline or cam 130 arranged beneath the series of molds in a position to bev traveled over by the base plate rods or stems 71, the pitch of the incline being very slight so as to merely free the sides of the vessel lfrom contact with the mold. vThe parts are so proportionedthat this separation continues gradually until the mold sets temporarily in a position for the ejectment of the article, at which time the base plate rod or stem passes out of contact with the cam:

To obtain the best results in the'commercial manufactureof plastic. articles, find- 4g' l I Y` 1,171,301

'it expedient to 'purify the plastic'matei'ial by removing therefrom any and all foreign .'I'natt'err To accomj'llish. this, a screen of -vproper mesh 131 is preferably applied to 5`the discharge end ofthe hopper, as shown in Fig. 19. .Through this screen the mate- .'rialffrom the hopper is forced by the stirring and lfeeding mechanismtherein, and all foreign matter is retained. l0 l What I claim as my invention is y1. In an automatic machine for shaping plastic materiahthe combination with a movable mold carrier, provided with a series .of molds, .an ejector for each of saidinolds,

` means for intermittently shifting the'rnold carrier, a movable charge carrier, means for feeding material to said charge carrier, a plunger fo'r delivering a charge of material from said charge' carrier toone of the molds of said mold carrier, a rotary former adapted to cooperate with ythe molds of said mold carrier, means for reciprocating the ,rotary former to move the same 'into 'one of the molds of themold carrier during-'fthe rest' period thereof, and Ameans for simultaneously elevating-the ejector of another of said molds and actuating the plunger of said charge" devices to fill another of said molds.'

3.0. 2. In anl automatic machine for shaping plastic material, the combination with a se- ,ries\ ofmolds adapted for movement ina horizontal plane, means for feeding ak measured charge ofmaterialv to saidmolds, comprising a traveling charge carrier -adapted tozoverlie said mold and to'traverse aportion thereof, vmeans'for feeding material into said vcharge carrier, a former adapted `rtocope'rat'e successively with each of said 40- molds, ineansfor reciprocating said former to causeit to enter o'ne'of the molds, and,`

means for simultaneously forcing a` `chai"'ge :ofhmaterial from said traveling carrier into l 'l another 'of said. molds.'

45,0 3 In an 7" tomatic machine for shaping ""on, a rotary feed table overlying themold arrier, said 1feed table being provided With :a `series of uniform pockets adaptedjto suc-359,

l".. cessi'vely register with the moldsl of the mold-,carrieig a liXed-liopper adaptedto deliver 'material to said feed table, and a ro- 'tary-"former positioned for copeiation with chargedmolds. y .Ina-n `automatic machine forshaping 4plastic'material, the combination with a ro- 'f tary carrier, of a plurality of molds thereon, a rotary. disk having a series of apertures G'Olfex'tendingtherethrough, pivoted for move? entgin. a Iplane'above the molds for the sucve 'registration of its apertures with molds, means for charging the disk rav'elingcarrier, of a series of molds there'- openings Witli`-plastic material, 'a p'lun'gf'ir positioned, for operation at the point of registration of a disk opening With a' mold', a rotary and reciprocatory former, and means controlled by the reciprocatory movement of traveling carrier, of a series' of molds thereon, a rotary-feed table overlying'the meld carrier,said feed table being. provided with cessively register with the'molds of the mold carrier, a Fixed hopper adapted to deliver material to said feed table, arotary formerpositioned forcoperationw'ith the charged molds, 4mechanism for intermittently and simultaneously operating the moldcarrier, and the 'feed table, and automaticmeans for a series of uniform pockets'adapted to suc v locking the mold,r carrier, yand feed table against relative movement during' the rest intervals." y i "'6. In an automatic vmachine foi-shaping plastic material', the combinationv with an intermittently operating" marginally apertured charge carrier, of means 'for filling the openings of the charge carrier Wfith plastic material, an Aejector positioned to register with the `filled openings successively, a seriesl of moldstraveling intermittently in ahorizontal plane beneath the ejector and charge carrier, a rotary and reciprocatory former,

and an ejector operating member reciprocat- A ino' With the former. l

In an automatic machine for forming plastic material, a rotary mold carrier provided With a series of molds, a former adapt' ed tosucc'essively 'coperate' with the molds yof said mold carrier, a charge carrier comprising a rotary .member overlying said mold carrier and having a plurality of openings extending therethrough adapted to suc- A cessively register with the molds of the mold carrier, a stationary 4feed hopper adapted to deliver material to the carrier, means for intermittently rotating the mold carrier and charge carrier,- means for locking said carriers against'rotation during the rest periods thereof, means for reciprocating the former to cause' it toenter 'one of the molds ofthe mold carrierduring the .rest period thereof, ald means for forcing a charge from the charge carrier into another ofthe molds of the mold carrier during the rest period thereof.`

In testimony WhereofI aliix my signature in presence of tivo witnesses..

i 'WILLIAM J.`BA.Il`tI).v 4 Witnesses: .j

WM. J. BELKNAP, JAMES I. BARRY. 

